(DUBLIN, CA.) - The Dublin Unified School District Board of Trustees debated how to account for about $1.4 million in solar construction costs during its August 25 meeting.
The money was originally charged to the district's unrestricted general fund, but district staff recommended moving the expense to the bond interest fund instead. The discussion centered on where the money should come from and whether bond-related funds should be used for the solar project.
Amy Nichols, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services for the district, told trustees that the district approved its solar project in June 2022, and construction was completed in November 2025. During the 2025-26 school year, the district made about $1.4 million in final payments for the solar construction. Those payments were recorded in the unrestricted general fund, but the district could instead move the expense to its bond interest fund.
Photo Credit: DublinusdTV
Nichols explained that the bond interest fund contains interest earned on money from the district's bond sales. The fund is separate from the actual bond proceeds. The district also uses the bond interest fund to make payments on the financing used for the solar project. Those payments total about $1.6 million to $1.7 million each year.
If the $1.4 million expense is moved to the bond interest fund, Nichols said the fund would have enough money to make the solar payments for about four years. If the expense remains in the general fund, the bond interest fund could cover those payments for about five years.
Moving the expense would also increase the district's unrestricted general fund ending balance by about $1.4 million.
Trustee Kristian Reyes asked why the solar payments had previously been handled through another fund. Nichols said the payments had previously come from Fund 40, the capital facilities fund. She said she believed that fund included financial "reimbursements from prior bond projects and other transfers," but said she would need to research the history further. She confirmed that 2025-26 was the first year the solar payments were charged directly to the unrestricted general fund.
Trustee Gabi Blackman said she had concerns about using bond-related money for the expense.
Photo Credit: DublinusdTV
Blackman explained that the district had previously been careful about using actual bond proceeds for the solar project because of restrictions on how those funds can be spent. She said she was still uncomfortable with using bond interest for the project because that money could potentially be used for other long-term facilities needs.
However, Blackman also said moving the $1.4 million expense out of the general fund could give the district more money for other priorities, including students and staffing.
Trustee Dan Cherrier opposed the proposal, saying ongoing expenses should generally be paid from ongoing budgets rather than using bond-related funds that could be available for long-term building needs. Trustees also questioned whether the district's legal counsel had reviewed the proposed reclassification.
Staff confirmed that legal counsel had not been consulted before the item came to the board and offered to table the matter and consult with the district's attorney before bringing it back.
Reyes instead proposed approving the use of the bond interest fund pending approval from the district's legal team. After the motion was amended to make the approval conditional on legal counsel confirming that using the bond interest funds for the payment was legally appropriate, it was approved in a 3-2 vote, with three trustees voting in favor and two opposed.
Dublin Unified School District's solar program includes approximately 4.5 megawatts of solar capacity across 13 sites, along with electric vehicle charging infrastructure and other improvements. The district has said the project is intended to reduce energy costs and save more than $20 million in general-fund costs over its lifetime.
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